$15000 Doctorate NA

[michaeladsmith2]

I completed the final three assignments for the DHA program. The guidance provided was rich in requirements and structured clearly, effectively keeping the car on the road down the final stretch.

Research Practicum / Professor Hampton:
In the context of the Research Practicum, there was some feedback in the forum, primarily negative, about Dr. Hampton. However, I found her exceptionally intelligent and deeply committed to fostering students' understanding of research. She manages her research firm and is also heavily involved in government work. Despite being a relatively young professional, her accomplishments served as an inspiration. It's worth noting that while she might not resonate with everyone, she has had a significant impact on my academic journey. Rumor has it that this course resulted in lower grades for some individuals, but I am optimistic that everyone will complete the course. There is a tremendous amount of research papers to read, the Zoom sessions are intense, and you must have concision and be clear on the point when speaking, or it can become uncomfortable. Dr. Hampton has a top-tier BS radar; once she clocks it, she will expose you. The breadth of knowledge gained in this course has been exceptional, and the only upgrade would have been to have this class in the front with a Part 2 in the back end to continue the research. How and why they stuffed all that was required into 8-weeks is crazy. If this course were early, perhaps several students would have dropped out due to the rigor. The final grades will be released around the 16th-20th.

Teaching Practicum / Dr. Edwards:
The Teaching Practicum presented an interesting dynamic. Substantial weight was placed on discussion posts, which initially led to humbling scores for several students and early frustrations. They ended up being more like weekly one—or two-page essays than discussion posts, which was fine once you caught a groove. Two large assignments, in the end, make up 50% of your grade, and the most challenging part of them is the strict page count requirement as it requires you to show significant discipline, which was fun at first, and then countless revisions made it less fun, but it all comes together. For those interested in enrolling at VUL, save all of your reading requirements from the program as they will come in handy for this course; without them, it can cause you unnecessary stress.

Overall, I feel confident in achieving my GPA goal based on the quality of the work submitted for these final assignments. I eagerly look forward to the upcoming release of the grades for further validation.

Congratulations, Cohort! Looking forward to seeing you at Graduation on May 4th. Thanks for sharing your insights. I'm thrilled to have someone else articulate their experience with the VUL DHA, proving it's more than just a "clown" degree. It's a rigorous, intensive, and validated program. It wasn't easy by any means, but the challenge was worth it. Excited to celebrate with you in Lynchburg!